Machine for dispensing paper towels



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,719 E. HARRALSON .1

" HAQHINE FOR DISPENSING PAPER TOWELS" Filed Feb. 2, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 1 n w *""-?"n"- r "w :1; um Runu 25 ,merdor:

Sept. 11, 1928.

Filed Feb. 1927 E.& HARRALSON MACHINE FOR DISPENSING PAPER TOWELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,719

E. HARRALSON MACHINE FOR DISPENSING PAPER TOWBLS' Filed Feb. 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sephll, 1928.

UNITED STATES EDWABDHABRALSON, or wAsnrne'ronnrsraic'r OF COLUMBIAL 'JIACHINE roe DISPENSING PAPER TOWELS.

Application filed February This invention relates to that general class of dispensing apparatus designed to deliver folded paper articles, particularly under coin control, and it pertains,-more particu larly, to machines for "dispensing paper towels. r y

It has been found in connection with the use of paper towel holders and" apparatus in public lavatories and other places where there is need for a towel whieh can be thrown away after use to meet sanitary requirements, that a single towel by reason of its being made ofpaper, is not adequate for the drying of the hands of the user. I

Therefore, particularly where paper towels in public lavatories and other places are only available at the expenditure ofa coin, say one cent, it has been found necessary to make provision for the user having access to two paper towels in return for the com with which'he makes the purchase.

So far as I am aware, however, no

satisfactory apparatus has been provided for simultaneously dispensmg two paper towels on a single operation of a dlspensmg machine,

whether the machine be coin-controlled 'or OthGI'WISGV '7 7 WVhile it has been proposed heretofore to provide a stack of interleaved paper towels, so far as I know, there has been provided no machine which, on asingle operation, or in return for a single coin, will dispense two, and only two, of the interleaved towels from a stack of that character. All machines of which I have kno wledge that are intended to dispense paper towels from a stack such asIhave described, are elther lrregular 1n their operat1on, or enable the user, in return for a single coin, or on a single operation of the machine, to pull from the stack' an indeterminate number of towels, instead of only a single towel, thus obtaining a greater return for the expenditure than is" warranted,

or an insufficient delivery.

To overcome difficulties inhering in ma chines ofthis character and to provide means whereby two paper towels ma always be obtained in return for the coin eposited, or, on ajsingle operation of the machine, and to prevent the user from pulling out of the machine more than the two. towels towhich he is entitled, and to preventlany juggling of the apparatus, as well as toprevent the user from touching any other towels of the stack 2, 1927. Serial No. 165 292.

than those to which he isentitled and otherwise to secure satisfactory and eflicient operation, I have provided improvements her-e1 inafter described and set for-thin the accomp anying drawings.

My improved machine embodies a feeder,

whether coin-controlled or otherwise, combined with a guard in a novel manner by which the loose, folded end of the lowermost towel of the stack; of interleaved towels is caused to be engaged by the feeder, whenv the machine 'is operated, to the end that the towel cannot slip during the dispensing operation and the towel is presented so that it may be grasped by the fingers of the user and pulled out of the machine, bringing with it the towel immediately thereabove due to the interleaved arrangement of the towels,

thus enabling the user to obtain two towels and yet lneventinghim from touching the remaining towels ofthe stack or disarrangmg them 1n any manner.

The invention also comprehends the vision of means for supporting the front part of the towels in an improved manner 'so that g i the weight of the stack will be almost entirely removed from the two lowermost tow els and a space will be provided which will enable the feeder to perform its dispensing operation when called upon to do so, without I dis-arranging the stack of towels.

In connection with the dispensing mechanism of the present machine, I have shown and described a coin-controlled device to illustrate how the machine may be placed under coincontrol but it will be understood that the coin control device in question need not be used with the machinenor does'the machine require the use of any coin-control mechanism as it may be operated by any suitable manipulating means. v

In the accompanying drawings:

, Figure 1', is a perspective yiewof'the complete machine; Q

Fig. 2, is a horizontal section taken above the support forthe stack of towels;

Figs. 3 and 4, are vertical sections, respec tively showingthe parts in normal position and in partially operated position,

Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail view ofa stack of paper towels, showing the interleaving; Fig. 6, is a longitudinal vertical section;

Fig. 7, is a detail sectionperspective view, broken away, showing certain parts;

Fig. 8, is a detail view of the coin-controlled mechanism; and p i Fig. 9 is a sectional view thereof, showing the parts as they appearwhcn operated.

The apparatus, except the coin-control mechanism, if thed'atter he used, is contained within a shell or ,casing l which has a door 2 provided with a suitable lock 3 and mounted on a detachable hinge connection 41 which enables the entire (1001' to be taken out when the lock. is unlocked by au'aut iorized person so that access can be had tothe interior. a if preferred, the door 2 may be permanently lunged to the cas ing 1. j

fiupported; iir any suitable manner within the shell or casing 1 isthe support or hottom li on which the stacltof interleaved pa )e1',, towels 6 rests; as-shown in Figs. 3

and/L v i p p a J Extending across the box or shell 1 1s a rod, shelf, roller, or other support 7 on which thefront part of the stack of towels (ifre tsgthe rear. part of the stack resting on the sli elfior. support This manner-of supporting the stack of paper towels relieVes'thetwo lowermost towels 8 and 9 of near y all of the weight ot the stack and provides .a free space 10 helowthe stack which permits the withdrawal ofthe lowermost towels 8 and 9 withoutdisturbing the toii els'tliereabove, aswill be understood from Figv a a 1 ofthe box orishell l is pro rided with an o )ening-or slot 11 through which the loii'erinos paper-towel is dispensed, as shown in The front wall of the box is pro- )i'ded-ii'ith an inwardly ,inclined partoi' lip 12 foifiniiig the lower part of the slot 11, to facilitate the clearance, by the lowermost towel; or the fronto the box when the'towel i is being'dispensed, asshown in Fig. 4, and to eiizib user toeasily' grasp the folded or g'loiililec led f e o'i 'tli lower towel '8 when the latter is being dispensed. 4

For purpose i N of guarding the opening or lot-1i auction of t 1e: nigge -s of a person idesiring to obtain access to the towels and also to inside the "engagement of the dispensing iniins with 'tlie folded part- 8, as will presently appear, I pioiiide'a vertically movable guard. and [pressure camels, This guard nui'j assiuiie thefoi'iii of a roller although it is not essential that it be adapted toj reas it; h ads is and could be substitutedfor the i ollerfiiihich is illustrated at 13. The-ends otth i'olleif are ifio'untd in vouch side 14 to enable the l oneto rise and fall, y Niii iiiiilly,'the .roll'er isi-i'i the poslt ltiil slibwli in F ig. '3,;that is, in contact with snappe ed e ofjuief up 12 ofr' lo weave-r5; clos toit. y l

The means 1 for dispensing the lowermost pairiof't'owels 9, comprises zi' laterally tlo pirere'nt unauthorized intro-- movable slide 15 which is located under month the support or shelf and is slidably mounted in guides 1G,-bst shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The dispensing slide 15 is positioned so that when it moves outward itwill engage tl'leot'er'hituging part 8 of the lowermost towel 8 and push this part under the guaruniml'pressure device 13 and between it and the lip 12. The lip 12 and the guard and pressure device 13 then act to hold the lip or bent part 8 snugly against the t'orward edge of the dispensing slide 15 so that thtwbent part 8" can not open out. i As the slide continues its moi en'icnt to the right and beyondthe position shown in Fig. 4, not only will the lower paper towel be projected but the next towel. 9 will (be drawn forwardly and hence when the user grasps the forward part of the lowerdzowcl 8, the towel 9'will be drawnout and the user will then obtain two, towels.- When the slide returns to normal position shown in Fig; 3, the then lowermost towel of the stack 6 has assumed the; position previously occupied by the lowermost towel 8 andrepetition of the operation may be obtained.

The slide may be mounted and. op-

crated in"various-ways. v As shown. the slide is provided with depending, slotted brackets 17' which receivethecross 11111118 ot'a yoke or frame 19 which has piyots 20 mounted in abraeket 21 secured to the bottom of the casiiig ls v a 1 Springs ZZ Which are coiledarouiid the pivots 20 and are engaged with the bracket 21 and with the yoke 19, are adapted to re; store the slide 15 to tl enormal position shown in Fig: 3 after the pairof towels has bcen' dispensed." v p I p i. The operating shaft 23 which mounted in bearings 24 carried bj' the box 1. is I rovid ed with awi )er Qiiwhihhi is in the, orui of a block'rig'i'diy securedlto said shaft and provided with two pins 26 and 27 whiolrare at opted to wiieagainstn bracket orlug, 28 SQCIlfGCl tQ aux depending -fronithe bottom of the dispensing slide 1521s shown in Figs;

) ,arried by the shaft-23" is a double cam 29 whose outline appears 1 in, dotted lines in Figs and4. This cam has up ositely disposed depressions and ioppositey disposed high spots and is of the general outline of the figure8-.- u

leaf spring 30 which is secufrcd to the shell 5, has arount ed end 31,017 aroller, whichrides onthe cam. The leafsp'ringBO has its 0 ntactend 31v arranged-,toenter one o the notches or low )GlflliS; ot {the cam wlienthe dispensing she leis inmormal oositi'o'n, trat is, retracted, asshown in Fig. Qthusrtaihing the dis aensing-slidein that position. Simi {11 y, when ,thetdispensing slide is in its full projected position, the end lit:

r spring snaps from the high point of the cam into the notch, in, each instance and insures a final sharp or quick actionoli the dlspens' ing slide for puraoses of retraction or projection of said sli e.

The stack, pack, or packet of interleaved, folded towels shown in Figs-3, 4, and 5 has been on the market for sometime and I lay no claim thereto. However, so far as I am aware, I am the first to provide an apparatus or machine for automatically simultaneously dispensing two paper towels from a pack, stack or packet of this character;

The shaft 23 may be directly operated byany suitable knob or handle. A handle, for that purpose is shown at 32.. A handle of that character may be directly attached to the shaft 23, or provided with any intermediate connection.

An apparatus such as I have invented is, however, usually subject to coin-controlledmeans and while I do not limit my improvements, heretofore described, to the use of a coin-controlled mechanism, nor to the coincontrolled mechanism which appears in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8, and 9, nevertheless, as such mecha nism is well adapted for use in connection with the dispensing mechanism, illustration thereof is given. a

The coin-controlled mechanism has a case or shell 33 provided with a coin slot 34 and suitably secured to the box 1 "by fastenings 35.

A coin receiving disc 36 is carried by a short shaft 37 which is provided with a flattened end 38 which is received in a slot in the end of the shaft 23. The disc 36 has a coin slot 39 arranged diametrically thereof. This slot is normally in alinement with the coin-receiving slot 34, ready to receive a coin. Instead of a diametrically arranged slot, slots may be provided at quadrant dis tances apart, or otherwise.

Another disc 40 which has a bore receiving the shaft 37, is provided with a hub 41 which is encircled by the hub 42 of the handle 32. A pin 43 carried by the hub 42 is received in a notch in the hub 41. The handle 32 is secured by a screw 44 to the hub 41. The disc 40 is provided with a peripheral groove 45.

A spring 46 is secured at 47 to the case 33 i and at 48 to the disc 40. Normally, the spring is not under tension as shown in Fig. 8 but when a coin has been inserted andthe handle 32 is operated, the spring lies in the groove as shown in Fig. 9 and the spring then exerts tensionto restore the parts to normal position when the coin has dropped out after the handle has been operated and the dispensing operation has been completed.

The disc 40 is provided with a substantially semicircular guard flange 49 which encircles one-half of the periphery of the disc 36. I

Inasmuch as the handle 32 is connected to the disc 40 and the discs 40 and 36 ordinarily haveno operative connection, if the handle is turned,it will simply strokeidly without turning the shaft 23. A

If a coin'be inserted in the slot 34, it will enter the channel vor slot 39 in the disc 36. If the handle 32 then beturned, the end of the guard flange 49 will come into engagement with the coin and the'discs 40 and 36 will. be clutched together for a one-half revo lution, during which the dispensing slide 15 willdispense apair of the paper towels. 'The turning of the disc 40 winds up the spring 46 as shown in Fig. 9. Consequently, when the coin comes to its lowermost position and falls out into a receptacle provided for the purpose and which may be attached to the bottom of the shell orcasing 33, the

tension to which the spring 46 has been put,

willcause it to rotatethe disc 40 backwardly' to normal position. While the discs 40 and 36 are. being turned by the handle, when a coin is in position, the flange49serves as a closure for the slot 34, thus preventing insertion of another coin until has dropped out;

What I claim is:

1. In a machine having a-container for holding a packetof interleaved paper towels, the combination with an abutment for one end of said packet, of means including a the first coin reciprocatory feeder operating adjacent, and

in spaced relation to said abutment which is adapted to engage and move the end towel of the packet, thereby starting the. disengagement of the adjacent towel from the packet and enabling the user to remove thetwo said towels when the machine is operated.

2. In a machine for dispcmsing articles from a packet, the combination with acontainer for holding said packet, of an abutment therein for one end of the packet aforesaid, a supplemental support for holding the said end part of the packetin spread. condition to facilitate the removal of the arti- 'ele at that end of the packet, a dispensing slide adapted to remove the end article of the packet through the space thusprovided without disarranging the packet, said container having a, dispensing opening through which the slides dispenses the article, and a combined guard and pressure, device 10- cated at the slot and adapted to engage the I article being dispensed.

3. In a dispensing machine of the ejector type provided with a container adapted for I holding a packet of articles, means for retaining the forward end of the packet in elevated position above the ejector to provide a free dispensing space beyond the endof said packet, and means for dispensing the end art cle of the packet from said container through the clear space thus provided.

4. In a. dispensing machine of the ejector type provided, with a container adapted for holding a. paoketfof articles; means for retaining the forward end of the packet in elevated position above the ejector to provide a free dispensing space beyond the end of said packet, and dispensing means constituting the bottom of the aforesaid clear space and adapted for dispensing the end article of the packet from said container through the free space thus provided. 7

a 5. In a dispensing machine of the ejector type provided with a container adapted for holding a packet of articles and having an opening in its side through which the lower niost article of the packet may be dispensed, of means for-supporting the lower part of the packet in elevz ted position above the ejector at that side of the packet-adjacent the aforesaid opening, to maintain such packet in elevated posit on and providing a free space through which; the lowermost article of the packet may be shifted for dispensing through the opening in the con tainer, and dispensing means operating in said free space.

'6. In a dispensing machine of the GJGCtOI' type provided with a container adapted for holding a packet of articles, a horizontal an ejector, of means for sup 'iorting thesaid packet in spaced relation to said ejector,

said cabinet having means including the e ector for e ecting a portion of one of said towels and rei'idering available for use another towel when the ejected towel is com pletely withdrawn.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDIVARD' I-IARRALSON. 

